Jon "Bones" Jones -- who has a huge UFC fight tonight in New Jersey with Shogun Rua -- just subdued a robber with an awesome fighting move -- TMZ has learned.

Jones was doing what has become his ritual before a fight ... he was meditating at a park in Patterson, NJ when he heard a woman scream, "I've been robbed!"

Jones began chasing the man for a good distance. When the fighter caught up with the alleged robber, he knocked the guy's legs out from under him, then placed him in a figure-four leg lock until Paterson cops arrived.

Jones' fight tonight -- UFC 128 -- is in Newark.

Jones tells TMZ, "It was a great pre-fight warm-up for me!"

__________________"Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."
--Hugh Latimer, October 16, 1555

Never fear, citizens of New Jersey, UFC light heavyweight contender Jon Jones is here to save the day.

"Bones," who fights Mauricio Rua in the main event of UFC 128 tonight in Newark at the Prudential Center, took to Twitter today to detail his heroic tale of himself and his coach, Greg Jackson, subduing a thief that was robbing an old lady as they pulled up to the park in their vehicle:

Quote:

"So while we were at the park today a crack head smashed this old ladys car window and took off running with her gps just as we were pulling up. ... right away....Coach Wink goes after this guy. Without hesitation, Coach Jackson went after him...I was shocked and stood there for a second ... then I threw my phone down and went with my coaches. Before you know it, we're sprinting up a steep hill chasing after him. ... I turned the jets on....we caught the guy. We got the lady's gps back. ... It feels so good to help others. It gives me power and energy. ... Coach Jackson is a hero! ... I caught him....Coach Jackson finished him. ... #crackheadshavenocardio"

Above is a picture of Jackson and Jones holding the criminal until the police arrive.

I guess you can add crime-fighting good Samaritan to Jones' rapidly growing resume. Today the world, tonight the 205-pound title?